POST TOWN ALL MEETING REVIEW....

[fiberisgoodforyou]

WOW...WHAT A TURN OUT!

Wall to wall parents residents in the auditorium, great job Freehold Boro. we proved that the entire community can find a common cause and unite.

It was Lively, messages are on target, and a few of out guests squirmed a bit!

And our very own Councilwomen Shutzer was soooo on target, she should go to Trenton on the 29th too!

[admin]

Last night's turn out was huge, inspiring and long over due. Yes, the Trenton gang did squirm.

Last night we saw a very united Freehold Borough. There were more than just parents there. We had people from all walks of life including some who never had children in the schools and those who have not in quite some time.

It was clear that the parents of many children did in fact plan ahead to get the message out. That message was directed at Trenton to stop ignoring us.

Public comments from all were very strong. The message from the school board was very strong. Andrew Defonzo got up and looked the Trenton gang in the eye and stated that he will hold them accountable.

The message from the teachers and staff was strong.

The theme last night focused on the fact that the problems our schools face do not come from within. The solutions do not come from within.

Freehold circled the wagons and we should all be proud of our united display.

[admin]

And from Nick at the APP

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070321/NEWS01/703210429/1004

[Marc LeVine]

I've visited the Borough as a child; have lived here as a resident since 1981 (and raised my family); and have served on the governing body, on and off, since 1990. Last night, however, I was never more proud of our town and its residents.

Our surrounding towns could never have pulled together as well as WE DID, last night - UNITED for a purpose. UNITED for a resolve. As the children's chorus sang out - "Black, White and Brown." We were all ONE TOWN.

The message those elected officials will be taking back to Trenton will be loud...but when we follow them back to the State House on March 29th -- it will be deafening.

Marc LeVine

[leelye]

I had to leave just at the start of the open public comments portion of last night's meeting. Could someone please explain or give further insight to the comments that Councilwoman Schutzer and Andrew DeFonzo made. Apparently the APP reporter only felt it was necessary to report the opening comments and nothing else. It would have been nice to have a more informed detail of the meeting and what really made the PANEL squirm in their seat.

Thanks,

Leelye

[admin]

leelye said:

I had to leave just at the start of the open public comments portion of last night's meeting. Could someone please explain or give further insight to the comments that Councilwoman Schutzer and Andrew DeFonzo made. Apparently the APP reporter only felt it was necessary to report the opening comments and nothing else. It would have been nice to have a more informed detail of the meeting and what really made the PANEL squirm in their seat.

Thanks,

Leelye

I hope that somebody else can recap better than I can, but both the Councilwoman and BOE Andrew Defonzo were great.

Shutzer spoke not as a councilperson, but as a mother grandmother and teacher of 41 years. As always, she held the attention of everyone in the room. She made it loud and clear that the system the state has created is a mess and she did blame Trenton.

Andrew was brief and to the point. He did state that he will hold all of the elected officials accountable.

Both of these elected leaders made it clear that the problems our town face are not ones that we created, but come from the outside.

And yes, the press should have picked up on their comments a bit more.

[admin]

On another note, there was only one mention of illegal immigration all night long. That came from Karcher. I believe it was not intended on her part.

Karcher was talking about the specific problems that our town has, many of which are unique to us. While doing so, she blurted out " immigration problem" in reference to Freehold. I perceived that she caught herself and had not meant to say that.

If anyone heard laughter coming from the back of the cafetorium, that was me.

;D

[leelye]

admin said:

leelye said:

I had to leave just at the start of the open public comments portion of last night's meeting. Could someone please explain or give further insight to the comments that Councilwoman Schutzer and Andrew DeFonzo made. Apparently the APP reporter only felt it was necessary to report the opening comments and nothing else. It would have been nice to have a more informed detail of the meeting and what really made the PANEL squirm in their seat.

Thanks,

Leelye

I hope that somebody else can recap better than I can, but both the Councilwoman and BOE Andrew Defonzo were great.

Shutzer spoke not as a councilperson, but as a mother grandmother and teacher of 41 years. As always, she held the attention of everyone in the room. She made it loud and clear that the system the state has created is a mess and she did blame Trenton.

Andrew was brief and to the point. He did state that he will hold all of the elected officials accountable.

Both of these elected leaders made it clear that the problems our town face are not ones that we created, but come from the outside.

And yes, the press should have picked up on their comments a bit more.

Thanks Brian

[fiberisgoodforyou]

I did hear a few "GASP", when FF made his presents known at the mike!

[admin]

fiberisgoodforyou said:

I did hear a few "GASP", when FF made his presents known at the mike!

I have to give credit where credit is due. Frank did good. He was not divisive and he did highlight the unity in the room. He expressed the same concerns as all the other speakers, and that is very good.

[Freehold Resident]

And yes, the press should have picked up on their comments a bit more.

I was not there, but I heard that Nick from the Press left a half hour before the meeting ended. And, Claire Celano from the Transcript cut out before the last few speakers finished. They probably had deadlines to meet.

I also heard the Mayor rushed out shortly after he spoke.

F R

[richardkelsey]

fiberisgoodforyou said:

I did hear a few "GASP", when FF made his presents known at the mike!

Gasps when he made "his presents known?"

What were the presents? LOL

Just teasing!

[believe]

The children, 15-20 of them and all but 2 from the elementary schools, spoke beautifully and were very moving to hear. The parents of those children were very proud. And all adults also delivered passionate messages. Eric Gross, the Intermediate Band Director, pounded several trophies on the politicians' dias, called up the other 2 music teachers and told our representatives that our kids will not be able to go to these festivals and compete anymore because there will be no band or chorus. A really fine, meaningful way to finish.

Yes, I believe Ms. Karcher's phrase "immigration problem" was blurted out, unchecked, as she immediately felt the need to change it. I chuckled as well because I was glad that someone had said it aloud, even accidentally. I wrote a question, which was not asked, about the Borough's overcrowded homes... The owner's property tax does not contribute proportionally to the number of children from that home that we are educating. (I have to wonder how the League's moderator chose the questions to offer.) Afterward, we spoke briefly with Ms. Karcher. 2 problems she sees are the churches and county buildings (non-ratable, if I am using that term correctly), and stacking. What did Ms. Schutzer mean by her last comment--not losing our identity? Is she not in favor of consolidation?

[fiberisgoodforyou]

richardkelsey said:

fiberisgoodforyou said:

I did hear a few "GASP", when FF made his presents known at the mike!

Gasps when he made "his presents known?"

What were the presents? LOL

Just teasing!

I think that will be delivered on May 1st rumor has it!

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Karcher was clear about one thing...

BEGIN Paraphrase.... "...we try not to be negative, speak badly or Villainize the ABBOTT'S, because our colleagues who represent those districts get offended when they are accusation of corruption or misappropriation of funds in the Abbott Districts!

When we speak negatively, they accuse us of being racists and rebut support for our legislation, .........we're a team, we're on the same side, we need to work together and be productive" END Paraphrase....

WELL EXCUSE ME!!!! I'M YOUR CONSTITUENT, SCREW YOUR "COLLEAGUES"~!

[andrewd]

First of all I have to say again...Thank you all for coming down to that meeting and overflowing the room. After the meeting, someone thanked Assemblywoman Beck for sticking around so long to which she replied (paraphrasing here) "when this many people show up to show their concern, you know they are passionate about education, and we have to be sure that all of their voices are heard"...so again, thank you one and all for showing our representatives in Trenton just how passionate we are about the education of the children in our town. That being said...the battle is not over, so please do not give up now.

Those of you who were there the other night heard Assemblywoman Beck mention the Budget committee hearing on the 29th in Trenton. It will be at 10am, Thursday March 29th at the State House complex in Trenton, committee room #11 in the State House Annex. If anyone wants a copy of the flier that Jennifer Beck's people handed out the other night, email me at [e-mail] and I will send you a copy. A strong showing down in Trenton on the 29th would be a fantastic follow-up to Tuesday night.

Also, there is a BOE meeting this coming Monday night, the 26th, once again at the Park Avenue School Library at 7pm, this is the public hearing on next years budget. I strongly urge you all to show up for this meeting.

Now...getting into some of the specifics of the other night. Let's start with BOE President Jim Keelan and Superintendent Liz O'Connell. I really think both of them did a fantastic job of setting the tone for the night. After hearing them, you knew, this was not going to be a night where our Trenton representatives were going to have an easy task ahead of them.

Admittedly, I did have to chuckle a bit when Mayor Wilson was up there. While I admire his passion, I did feel like I was at some sort of revival there when he was getting the audience to chant "NOW" time and again.

Linda McCarthy was also fantastic, holding no punches while driving home the severe consequences our budget problems are going to have on our students.

Dr. Linda Mather from the League of Women's Voters, while I think she did a decent job, I agree with "believe" who wondered how the questions were chosen. I think most of the questions were basically the same and did not really push the representatives for firm answers quite as hard as I would have liked.

But then again, that's why we all stood up and talked. A couple of people mentioned how they saw the folks up on stage "squirm" a bit from what was being said - GOOD. As a board member, I can not get involved in politics, as a resident of the Boro, I have my favorites, but in either case, it's always good to give any elected officials a good dose of reality from time to time, and that's exactly what they all got that night.

Personally, the more I think about it, the more I like the fact that when the community got up to speak, it was not structured as a "question and answer" period. Our elected officials have spoken enough over the years, they have given us the same answers time and time again, it was time they had to just sit there and listen to US...brings a smile to my face right now just thinking about it.

Thank you, Brian, for your kind words about my brief time at the microphone (did anyone hear the quiver in my voice). I have never been much of a public speaker, but I could have gone on and on the other night...but I felt that everything had already been said very well by the rest of the community. In particular I want to thank Stacy Laberdee for her very strong words and concerns...people like her are sometimes hard to come by, and as a community we have to hope she decides to stay here in the Boro.

At the risk of repeating myself from the other night, the thing that really bothers me is that all of a sudden, now this is a big issue with the people in Trenton. We've been flat funded by the state for 5 years!!! Senator Karcher and Assemblyman Panter have been in Trenton since 2004 (Assemblywoman Beck has been in Trenton since 2006)!!! WHERE WERE THEY FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS? That is why I said that I, as one of their constituents, am holding them all personally accountable for the situation we are in. And the only way that I - as a resident of Freehold Boro - have a voice to tell them that they are not living up to the expectations that I have for them, is in the voting booth.

Once more...let me thank everyone who showed up the other night. Thank you to all of the parents and residents of the Boro who got up and spoke. The teachers who spoke were excellent, the parents who spoke were excellent, but I have to say you were all shown up by the students who spoke...EXCELLENT JOB EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!

[richardkelsey]

admin said:

Last night's turn out was huge, inspiring and long over due. Yes, the Trenton gang did squirm.

Last night we saw a very united Freehold Borough. There were more than just parents there. We had people from all walks of life including some who never had children in the schools and those who have not in quite some time.

It was clear that the parents of many children did in fact plan ahead to get the message out. That message was directed at Trenton to stop ignoring us.

Public comments from all were very strong. The message from the school board was very strong. Andrew Defonzo got up and looked the Trenton gang in the eye and stated that he will hold them accountable.

The message from the teachers and staff was strong.

The theme last night focused on the fact that the problems our schools face do not come from within. The solutions do not come from within.

Freehold circled the wagons and we should all be proud of our united display.

Okay -- I have been sitting back reading all of this -- and it sounds like a very good night for Freehold in one key respect -- that is that you were heard by Trenton that you need more money. On that -- everyone agreed. (I am sure Trenton never heard that before!)

So -- now I pour some cold water on you -- and i am sorry to do so but I must.

First -- Unanimity is easy to achieve on a common goals. Every interest group in the room wants more money -- and they want it from a source that preferably they see as someone else. (Money from Trenton is really money from you -- but it also gives you a chance to pick the pockets of the rest of New Jersey -- not the the State won't get it back from you so where else -- of course) But let's face it -- as between the Borough funding the "gap" itself and having the full resources of the state to draw from -- getting unanimity there works.

Who wants more funding:? Answer -- Everyone -- particular money from someone else. So -- in the room you had unanimity because:

Parents want there kids educated in good schools
School administration hopefully wants to provide that good education -- and they want to be able to fund themselves
Teachers -- want to help kids and help keep jobs and get better pay.
FF and his group want the children of illegals to continue to get free education -- particularly without this further driving a wedge into the community.

So -- everyone has the same short term goal. Of course, getting short term cash from the state solves today's cash problem -- though it certainly does not address the underlying issues.

Now -- let's put our political hats on for a moment -- just one moment.

Freehold Borough has how many voters? Do you get more than 3 thousand votes cast in any year -- maybe a Presidential year?

How does Freehold generally vote in each and every election -- give or take a few hundred votes?

Now -- let's pretend you are one of these local representatives that showed-up and squirmed. How hard are you going to bat for the little town who always votes for your party -- and even if it did not -- would cost you maybe -- on the margins -- 500 votes?

You have to convince your party and colleagues to give up money from their constituents -- including towns with lots more voters -- to solve the woes of a political tiny municipality with a rich history of voting for your party no matter what.

When the state budget bosses and party politicos and committee members meet -- how do you think they will make the toughest of choices on what little money there is? Will they look to send it to swing districts with large numbers of voters? Will they send it to much bigger -- rock solid districts that supply more votes and hardy party activists?

You bet they will.

Now -- do I think they might give you something? Sure. Do I think they may even -- on a one time basis -- plug your gap, you bet they might.

However -- you need to work on a long term strategy for responsible funding -- for relief from state and federal mandates, and of course, the elephant in the room, relief from the single largest money drain you have -- the mandate of educating illegal aliens.

Otherwise -- you will find yourself at what we used to call here -- "the beggars ball" on a regular basis -- fighting for scraps to plug the whole not of your making. Sometimes you will get what you need -- and other times you will not. It is not a sound long term strategy.

[admin]

Rich,

I understand your points, big time. You are right about us being a small voting block, but make no mistake, that meeting was just the beginning.

Put the illegal immigration issues aside. We know that is a huge reason for our problems. The solutions to that are difficult for a small town. That is from a standpoint of just looking at numbers and economics.

Schools in NJ are a problem to begin with. Trenton and Washington specifically.

The state gives out aid which amounts to about ten billion dollars annually. 57 percent of that goes to around 31 abbot districts. The remainder is given to the other 600 districts.

Throw in unfunded mandates that cuff the BOE.

I hate to say it, but from where I am sitting, it appears that the Freehold Borough schools may have no choice but to become a part of the Township school system. Trenton is talking about these issues as is, and there does not appear to be any other long term solutions.

Our current system of property taxes funding so much of the schools costs is unfair and not sustainable. These changes must come from Trenton. I will bet that our town is not alone, and we will see many others follow suit due to our current system.

[richardkelsey]

admin said:

Rich,

I understand your points, big time. You are right about us being a small voting block, but make no mistake, that meeting was just the beginning.

Put the illegal immigration issues aside. We know that is a huge reason for our problems. The solutions to that are difficult for a small town. That is from a standpoint of just looking at numbers and economics.

Schools in NJ are a problem to begin with. Trenton and Washington specifically.

The state gives out aid which amounts to about ten billion dollars annually. 57 percent of that goes to around 31 abbot districts. The remainder is given to the other 600 districts.

Throw in unfunded mandates that cuff the BOE.

I hate to say it, but from where I am sitting, it appears that the Freehold Borough schools may have no choice but to become a part of the Township school system. Trenton is talking about these issues as is, and there does not appear to be any other long term solutions.

Our current system of property taxes funding so much of the schools costs is unfair and not sustainable. These changes must come from Trenton. I will bet that our town is not alone, and we will see many others follow suit due to our current system.

Back when I was rehabbing my first home on Hull Avenue in 1994 with and living in newlywed bliss with my lovely wife -- whom I met in the 3rd grade -- I wrote a nice op-ed piece to the Asbury Park Press on schools, school funding, and defining "thorough and efficient." To my surprise -- the Press printed it -- right there next to George Will. I got my own huge box and a pull-out quote too. That was when my writing was still fashionable with the Press.

Anyway -- don't look for school reform any time soon in New Jersey. That would require tax reform, consolidation, and the stripping of power from little fiefdoms and special interests.

If New Jersayans new had little they had to pay in taxes, and how much better services and products they could get in efficient states -- they would literally repeal the gun control laws, arm themselves, and over-throw their governments -- all 6 billion of them.

Or -- people not willing to do so -- will move.

That is why you can find people from New Jersey just about anywhere down South.

Frankly -- I'd prefer the armed revolt.

It is actually criminal what is transpiring in that state. Too many governments, too many make work jobs, too much special interest influence, too much corruption, too much bureaucracy. Too little leadership, too few statesmen, too little political will, too little independent thought.

How can a state with some many politicians, have so few leaders?

It makes me deeply sad.

But -- on a positive note -- there are still signs of fighters throwing punches. As long as your on your feet -- you have a chance.

There are numerous solutions to the States almost innumerable problems. You just need residents and leaders with courage and vision to make them happen. The largest of fires, often start first as only an un-noticed smoldering ember.

[digal]

For anyone who is going to Trenton an e-mail address has been created if you would like to contact the group of parents who are also going. T-shirts are being made, but we are on a short deadline. If you want a shirt, e-mail your contact info and size and we'll get back to you. Car pools are also forming. The e-mail is [e-mail].

[admin]

digal said:

For anyone who is going to Trenton an e-mail address has been created if you would like to contact the group of parents who are also going. T-shirts are being made, but we are on a short deadline. If you want a shirt, e-mail your contact info and size and we'll get back to you. Car pools are also forming. The e-mail is [e-mail].

Digal,

Thank you for your post. I added your post as a part of the calender description.


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